State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Complaint Procedures

Students enrolled in distance education courses or online programs who are residents of states other than Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and when such state is a SARA participating state, may submit complaints to the Associate Provost for Online Education by completing the complaint form. Students may also submit complaints to their dean or program director or the Dean of Students office. Additionally, students may submit information anonymously through the University’s Compliance Hotline, a toll-free, 24-hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week resource. The Compliance Hotline is staffed and managed by Lighthouse Services, Inc., a company that is not affiliated with MCPHS University and provides this service under contract. The Compliance Hotline may be contacted by:

Efforts will be made to conclude the investigation, make a determination as to the appropriate course of action, and notify the student within 90 days following the receipt of a complaint.

Complaints under Title IX may also be submitted following the procedures outlined in the University’s Title IX policy. All such complaints will be forwarded to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and handled in accordance with the University’s Title IX Policy.

The University will not in any way retaliate against an individual who reports a perceived violation of MCPHS policy, state, federal, or local law. It will also not retaliate against anyone associated with the individual who engages in such protected conduct, such as a family member, or any person who participates in an investigation. MCPHS further will not tolerate retaliation by any employee or student.

After the conclusion of the process outlined above, students enrolled in distance education courses or online programs who are residents of states other than Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and when such state is a SARA participating state, may appeal the University’s decision to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education which makes complaint forms available on its website. The contact information for the Massachusetts Department of Education is:

One Ashburton Place
Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 994-6950

Professional Licensure

MCPHS programs for licensed professions are designed to prepare students for applying for licensure throughout the United States and, to date, such programs have met individual state requirements. However, requirements for licensure and eligibility for professional examinations vary by state and are subject to change. Accordingly, MCPHS recommends that students contact the licensing board in the state in which they intend to practice to determine the requirements for licensure in that state.